Apple now supports recovery of deleted messages
In the Messages app , you can recover deleted messages on your iPhone.
You can restore messages you deleted for up to 30 days.
Starting with iOS 16, Apple has unveiled an incredibly straightforward method for retrieving recently deleted messages. This feature extends to the latest iOS 17 as well. The only requirement is that your device must be updated to either iOS 16 or iOS 17 before deleting the text messages you wish to recover. With these versions, you have the ability to recover deleted text messages within a 30-day window after deletion (with a maximum of 40 days, subject to the discretion of Apple's algorithms). Below is a step-by-step guide from iphonelife.com on locating and effortlessly recovering deleted messages in the Messages app on your iPhone:
Keep in mind that recovering deleted messages in this way could alter the date/ time stamps on the device. It is important that if you need to recover deleted messages in this way that you thoroughly document your process and why you chose to recover the evidence in this manner in your reports.