David Cauley

So when Bragg was first interviewing her, he asked, can I see your phone? And she says, yes. So she gives him permission to see her phone. And he steps out just in the doorway of the interview room. And with his phone, he takes as many pictures of various screens on her phone. Recent text messages between her and her husband. He takes pictures of those.

So when Bragg was first interviewing her, he asked, can I see your phone? And she says, yes. So she gives him permission to see her phone. And he steps out just in the doorway of the interview room. And with his phone, he takes as many pictures of various screens on her phone. Recent text messages between her and her husband. He takes pictures of those.

He takes pictures of recently added contacts and just does as many as he can. He doesn't know what he's looking for, but he hopes to catch something, and he in fact does.

He takes pictures of recently added contacts and just does as many as he can. He doesn't know what he's looking for, but he hopes to catch something, and he in fact does.

Unbelievable. February 19th of 2015, these people are all acting as a group. They're using Samantha's car. They're all hanging out together. At one point, Sanford, Lacona Slayton, Jose Ponce, and Octavius Rimes are all at Walmart stealing groceries with Samantha's kids using Samantha's car while she's at the hospital. So they had a plan.

Unbelievable. February 19th of 2015, these people are all acting as a group. They're using Samantha's car. They're all hanging out together. At one point, Sanford, Lacona Slayton, Jose Ponce, and Octavius Rimes are all at Walmart stealing groceries with Samantha's kids using Samantha's car while she's at the hospital. So they had a plan.

First plan was to go to Octavius Rimes cousin in Mount Vernon and buy some meth and use that to set up Ernie so that he would go to prison and get him out of Samantha's life. Then as the night went on, they were all together. They were together at Octavius Rimes house. Jose Ponce was cooking enchiladas with the groceries they stole from Walmart.

First plan was to go to Octavius Rimes cousin in Mount Vernon and buy some meth and use that to set up Ernie so that he would go to prison and get him out of Samantha's life. Then as the night went on, they were all together. They were together at Octavius Rimes house. Jose Ponce was cooking enchiladas with the groceries they stole from Walmart.

And it was during that period of time, Jonathan said the plan changed and the plan changed. for them to kidnap Ernie, make it look like a burglar and kidnapping, and to kill him. And that all Samantha had to do was leave the door unlocked, and that would be their answer.

And it was during that period of time, Jonathan said the plan changed and the plan changed. for them to kidnap Ernie, make it look like a burglar and kidnapping, and to kill him. And that all Samantha had to do was leave the door unlocked, and that would be their answer.

There's also messages between Samantha and Octavius telling them what law enforcement is doing, telling them to get rid of Ernie's phone because it's being pinged, telling them that law enforcement has located the phone. And so to ditch the phone and move.

There's also messages between Samantha and Octavius telling them what law enforcement is doing, telling them to get rid of Ernie's phone because it's being pinged, telling them that law enforcement has located the phone. And so to ditch the phone and move.

All four were charged with the aggravated kidnapping in Titus County and the murder in Camp County. And so from a charging standpoint, what that does is give us... Two bites of the apple. It also let sentences be stacked because the cases would not be tried together. Also, except for Sanford, nobody probably had the history that it would require to get the death penalty.

All four were charged with the aggravated kidnapping in Titus County and the murder in Camp County. And so from a charging standpoint, what that does is give us... Two bites of the apple. It also let sentences be stacked because the cases would not be tried together. Also, except for Sanford, nobody probably had the history that it would require to get the death penalty.

He and Jose Ponce both pled guilty to all the charges, and they each received 50-year sentences on each one to run concurrently.

He and Jose Ponce both pled guilty to all the charges, and they each received 50-year sentences on each one to run concurrently.

In going into Samantha's first trial, I felt like, you know, the Titus County Sheriff's Department had done such a thorough job that I had everything I needed. Biggest fears were just, you don't know what a jury's going to do. You don't know how they're hearing the story you're telling.

In going into Samantha's first trial, I felt like, you know, the Titus County Sheriff's Department had done such a thorough job that I had everything I needed. Biggest fears were just, you don't know what a jury's going to do. You don't know how they're hearing the story you're telling.

The plan was for them to take Ernie out into the woods and shoot him with this one firearm that they carry around. They have to kind of pass between them. At one point, Jonathan said he changed his mind and he was going to slit Ernie's throat, but he didn't get to because Ponce shot him first.

The plan was for them to take Ernie out into the woods and shoot him with this one firearm that they carry around. They have to kind of pass between them. At one point, Jonathan said he changed his mind and he was going to slit Ernie's throat, but he didn't get to because Ponce shot him first.