Textual content messages between two teenagers accused of murdering a California highschool scholar had been learn aloud in court docket Wednesday as prosecutors detailed what they are saying was a revenge plot.
The messages had been launched on the third day of the juvenile homicide trial of Cassandra Michael, who, together with then-boyfriend Byron Rangel, is accused of killing Caleb Fast exterior a McDonald’s close to Nees and Willow avenues in Clovis on April 23, 2025.
Prosecutors allege the pair, each 16 on the time, focused Fast over claims he sexually assaulted one other teen.
Prosecutors offered the messages as they known as their seventeenth witness within the case after listening to testimony from six friends of Michael and Rangel and a number of legislation enforcement officers, in response to the Fresno Bee.
Lead Clovis detective Lovedeep Malhi testified that investigators recovered a textual content dialog between Michael and Rangel after seizing their telephones with a search warrant.
Jurors heard messages exchanged the day earlier than and the day after the taking pictures.
Based on testimony, Rangel requested Michael who instructed her in regards to the alleged assault. Michael named the teenager woman, recognized solely as “Jane Doe,” and stated she had been “blackout drunk” when Fast stated he would take her dwelling however as an alternative had intercourse together with her.
Rangel later replied, “Yeah, this s–– horrible.”
After the deadly taking pictures, jurors heard Michael textual content Rangel, “Idk easy methods to really feel,” then later add, “I’m simply in shock actually.”
Michael’s attorneys stated throughout opening statements that investigators by no means discovered any messages exhibiting she needed to hurt Fast over the alleged assault.
Prosecutors allege Michael helped plan the killing and acted because the getaway driver whereas Rangel, wearing black with a hoodie and disposable black surgical masks, stalked Fast earlier than taking pictures him behind the top exterior the McDonald’s.
Surveillance footage proven in court docket captured the taking pictures, although the gunman was not simply identifiable as a result of his face was lined.
Jurors additionally heard from California Division of Justice criminalist Christopher Johnson—who testified that DNA testing discovered each Michael’s and Rangel’s DNA on a silver Smith & Wesson revolver recovered from Rangel’s dwelling.
Michael’s attorneys have argued her DNA may have been transferred after the gun got here into contact with the seat the place she had been sitting in a car.
Police additionally testified they recovered a spent shell casing from Rangel’s closet whereas executing a search warrant at his household’s Clovis dwelling.
Though investigators by no means recovered the projectile that struck Fast, testimony confirmed the markings on the shell casing matched these fired by the silver .357 Smith & Wesson Magnum revolver discovered on the dwelling.
Michael, who’s now 18, will proceed to be tried in juvenile court docket after a Fresno County decide denied prosecutors’ request in Might to switch her case to grownup court docket.
In June, a letter from President Donald Trump and First Girl Melania Trump introduced renewed consideration to the case, expressing condolences to the Fast household over the teenager’s loss of life and voicing help for efforts to fight violent crime.
“Melania and I are devastated by the mindless lack of your loved one son, Caleb, and we’re heartbroken on your whole household,” the letter states.
“Please know that my Administration won’t ever cease preventing to scrub up our streets and guarantee legislation and order in our Nation.”
