Searches of the men's phones turned up numerous text messages between them referring to the Yang death investigation,

 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.