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  Searches of the men's phones turned up numerous text messages between them referring to the Yang death investigation,  including an April 2020 photo showing the two men in hunting gear at Rose Lake, along with a message that said, "A couple of cold-blooded killers revisiting the crime scene." Another message from September 2020 included a photo of the reward poster Yang's family had put up in the area and read, "They haven't caught ya," updated to "us," according to testimony. There also were messages referring to "the killing field," hunting people, shooting at noises and apparent racial epithets. In a preliminary examination in March, Nessel's office argued the messages show consciousness of guilt and constitute admissions. Defense lawyers argued the messages were nothing more than dark humor.

  Attorney General Dana Nessel's office declined to comment. Olson, 34, of Grand Blanc Township, and Robert Rodway, 34, of St. Johns, are charged with killing Yang, who was shot in the back of the head while hunting on state land in Bath Township on Nov. 16, 2018. Both men admitted hunting in the general area where Yang was killed that day but denied any involvement in his death. Police said they did not learn the men were hunting at Rose Lake that day until years later, and Rodway and Olson were not charged until late 2022. There are no eyewitnesses or physical evidence linking either man to the killing, and police used GPS location data and a series of text messages between Rodway and Olson to tie them to the murder.