COLDWATER, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Two of the four defendants accused by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office of being involved in a plot to kidnap, rape and kill a child have had their cases bound over for trial in Branch County Circuit Court.
All four defendants are being held on $5 million bonds. They have been charged with conspiracy to commit the crimes of kidnapping, first-degree criminal sexual conduct and murder.
Prosecutors called a pair of Michigan State Police computer investigators to the stand during the preliminary exam for David Bailey of Coldwater as they tried to establish a text messaging link between Bailey and co-defendant Matthew Toole of Battle Creek.
They also called Bailey’s ex-girlfriend, Britney Raymond, who testified she was present when they discussed the kidnapping plot, saying they planned to rape and beat a young girl they would kidnap from the Jackson County Fair, and they would try to destroy the body by burning it in a burn barrel. They broke up two days later.
Kyle Bowers from the State Police Computer Crime Unit testified that during his investigation, he found text messages which included the terms “go hunting tonight”, “pretty” and “toy”, which he claims were code words.
A State Police digital forensic analyst was also called to the stand. Defense Attorney Benjamin Jewell argued those messages could have been sent by anyone using the phones that were seized by authorities during their investigation.
Eventually, Judge Brent Weigle determined there was enough probable cause to send Bailey’s case to Circuit Court.
Meanwhile, Talia Furman of Springfield waved her preliminary exam on Wednesday.
Both Bailey and Furman are scheduled to appear for Circuit Court pre-trial conference on December third.
Toole is scheduled to appear for a Branch County Circuit Court pre-trial conference on Monday.
19-year-old Jayme LaPoint of Athens waived her preliminary exams on Tuesday in this case as well as in a separate child sex and pornography case in which she is facing four counts. Her Circuit Court pre-trial conferences are scheduled for November 26th.
